Tele Day Dreamin' in August

By Scott Cheney, Alta

As I crack open a Keystone Ice on a cool and breezy August evening on Maui, my daydreams have begun to drift to- wards skiing again. This is despite the fact the first Powder Magazine has yet to reach Hawaii.

 For me, August boldly finishes the last of the summer months and ushers in fall, sweet fall. I will not experience fall in Utah this year, but my soul will feel the Aspens waving their little yellow fans goodbye to the Indian summer and welcoming the first flakes of the year.

 I have begun to reminisce about the last epic powder day at Alta in April, which I enjoyed with my good friend Laura. These daydreams have charged my treks to the gym in Connie and Tim Knab's rusty Maui Cruiser with a renewed sense of purpose, although I would much rather be going to Kathleen Leopardi's Ski Conditioning Sessions in Sugarhouse Park.

 I have also been thinking about tele skiing technique. Call me crazy, but I am an instructor and I have many new thoughts on teaching skiing when the bustle of the ski season isn't lulling me into a routine.

 I have compiled some of the pros of both the modern telemark ski stance and the low stance used by tele skiers by choice or by default. I hope you find something here to help you with your own tele skiing or teaching. WHAT? Are you thinking to yourself that you don't tele? Come on now, free the heel and, well, use your imagination. Cheers!

 Be a Biped, Dude

Pros of the Modern Telemark Ski Stance: Your feet from one-half to two boot lengths apart (fore and aft).

·         Doesn't require as much strength

·         Makes it much easier to turn your legs and skis without rotating your upper body and hips

·         Helps avoid unintentional "Turns That Never End" (back up the hill)

·         Greatly improves lateral balance

·         Reduces or eliminates the need for the outrigger double pole plant/ pole drag

·         Reduces the risk of broken hands and fingers and torn shoulders from less hand and pole dragging

·         Allows for a quicker lead change •  Allows quickness edge to edge •  Easier, faster short turns

·         Makes it possible to absorb terrain with your legs

·         Easier to ski smoothly and efficiently by keeping constant contact t between the skis and snow

·         Easier on your back

·         Easier on your knees

·         You can tele every day and not feel like you've been laying tile in the Taj Mahal

So, You Still Wanna Go Low, Do Ya?

Pros(?) of the Low Stance: Spreadin'

your feet (fore and aft) until your rear knee touches your ski, a rock, etc.

·         Very little probability of experiencing the dreaded "Tip Floss"

·         If your knees and back can handle the abuse, it will work your leg muscles like few other activities can

·         You can have fun bouncing your knees off your skis in between turns in an effort to gain more rhythm in your skiing and give your legs a brief rest between turns

·         It allows you to skip the lunges during your evening workout in the weight room

·         If you enjoy making jump turns, you will love a low stance, for you'll be practically forced to jump when- ever you make linked short turns

·         Your arms and shoulders get a great workout with the outrigger double pole plant/pole drag you will likely utilize to save your lateral balance

·         It will probably brighten the financial future of your health care professionals

·         You need to tele once a week to feel like you tele every day

 So get out there and rip it up on teles. Time on teles greatly improves your alpine skiing skills and, although tele skiing is challenging, it is all about rhythm, flow, and fun. Remember 'If it were easy, they'd call it Snowboarding."

 For the snowboarders among us, your sport is killer, skiers appreciate all the great things snowboarding's evolution has brought to the sport of skiing, and I mean no disrespect. I'll happily trade anyone a tele lesson for a snow- boarding lesson as long as I get to wear a pillow in my pants and a pair of wrist guards. Have a great season everyone!

-scottcheney@earthlink.net